Swansea MP predicts 60% of UK will be Remainers by 2018
THE people of Swansea have changed their minds on Brexit and 60% nationwide will want to remain in the European Union by January, a city MP has predicted.
Geraint Davies, MP for Swansea West, has been outspoken in his views that the public should be given a final say on leaving the EU, highlighting the need to protect 25,000 jobs in Swansea he says depend on membership.
He insisted there was a growing feeling in the city agreeing with his sentiments. His comments come a week after it was revealed his Bill calling for a second EU referendum is to have its second reading next month.
“People increasingly in Swansea are saying, ‘that’s not what I voted for’,” Mr Davies said yesterday. “People voted for £350m extra a week to the NHS and now we are told by the Financial Times we are currently actually losing £350m a week through the impact of Brexit.
“People in Swansea wanted more money, not less. It has become apparent what the EU says happens. We’ve got no negotiation power.
“People in Wales are being hammered by the impact of Brexit going forward and now the penny is dropping. People now want to pull an Exit deal which is something I have called for personally. My prediction is by the end of January 60% will want to stay in the EU.”
The EU referendum vote in Swansea saw 61,936 people vote in favour of leaving, compared to 58,307 who wanted to remain.
Theresa May has said a second referendum is “out of the question”, but Mr Davies says a second poll would give voters the option of either rubber-stamping the deal or remaining in the EU.
Mr Davies has been campaigning for a second referendum since September 2017, when he submitted his Bill for its first reading. The Bill calls for a clear option for voters on whether to accept the 11th-hour deal brokered by the Prime Minister in Brussels last week or choose to remain in the European Union.
The Labour politician said he had “no criticism” of people who voted for Brexit.
“My issue is what they ordered and promised not being delivered,” he said. “People should have a right to change their mind in democracy. When the facts change, I change my mind. When the public has got more information they can make more informed decisions. In Parliament, despite criticism, there is a duty of care to your constituency to make this feeling known.
“I’m not prepared as MP for Swansea West to stand by and let this happen without making the feelings known of people in Swansea.”
But Conservative Gower councillor Richard Lewis said the people he had spoken to in the area had only “hardened” their position to leave.